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Tower of Karma (Web Novel) - Chapter 5 ”William”
Chapter 5 ”William”
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
“This guy’s height doesn’t match. That one is too bulky. The other one is a bit too old…”
Al was resting by the roadside of one main roads that connected Arcadia to the various faraway countries. The place where Al was waiting at in particular was an intercection where many other roads met, which in turn connected all those roads to the capital. Al was observing the people passing by, staying there in the pretense of taking a rest.
He had already bought new clothes from a peddler during his way. The peddler made an ugly face when he saw Al, but even money stinking like shit was money. It wasn’t like it was impossible for it to be used because it stinked. The peddler still kept his sour face though.
“There really isn’t anyone with the traits I need. I must keep my patience in this… but I might haveto change my plans a bit if their appearances continue to not match.”
Losing a bit of his confidence, Al’s expression became clouded.
“Yeah. I guess there is no other way… Hm?”
A certain person entered in Al’s sight.
“Stature, body shape, age; all the requirements fit perfectly. The rest is up to his nationality, I guess. I already forgot how many people it has been until now, but well, let’s first check him out.”
Standing up, he started to walk behind the person he spotted.
☆
“Yah, nice to meet you. Could I borrow your fire?”
Having suddenly been talked to, the young man looked at the person who called for him with surprised eyes. He probably understood that those words were being directed to him, but it seems he didn’t catch what that person was talking about.
“….? Ah… I, still, word, difficult.”
“Uhm… Where are you from?”
The traveller that had called out for the young man slowly spoke so that he could understand what he was saying.
“…Rushitania.”
The young man guessed he was being asked about where he came from. Hence, the young man answered with the name of his country. However, the young man didn’t expect that the traveller would recognize that name. He imagined traveller would become confused. When the young man was about to sigh in dejection…
“”It seems you’ve been traveling for a long time. Welcome to Arcadia.””
“!?”
Suddenly being talked to in his mother language, the young man became surprised rather than dejected.
“I’ve also been doing some traveling myself, so I am more or less familiar with other languages. Ah, what I asked before was whether I could borrow your fire.”
“H-here it is.”
The young man was surprised. Rushitania was a place located between many other countries. Moreover, it was a small country that couldn’t even be compared to Arcadia, one of the seven kingdoms, It was already surprising enough that there was someone that knew of its existence, but to have someone from outside speaking its mother language was outside of any of his expectations.
“Ah, it is very incredible to find someone of about the same age as me to be traveling from so far away.”
“No, I’m not that much great. Rather than that, I think you are much more incredible for being that much proficient in another language at my age.”
“I think Rushitania is much more famous than you give credit. Their wooden handicrafts are very famous among the nobles here, and Rushitania is also many levels ahead in medicine when compared to other countries. It is an amazing country that is incredible at the field of forging, making swords that can’t be held on the same light with the ones of other countries.”
The young man was little by little becoming more open with the well-disposed traveller.
“That’s right, now that I think of it, I haven’t introduced myself yet, right? My name is Norman. And yours?”
“William. Nice to meet you, Norman-san.”
The young man called William has now completely dropped his guard The man called Norman was someone that possessed a strange charm to him. The fact they were around the same age played a big role too. William began thinking that Norman and himself could become nice friends, not really giving much thought to his sudden appearance.
“Why is Norman-san traveling?”
“Right. I wanted to see the vast world, so I went on a journey. But travelling isn’t just made of good times, you know. I used to have it difficult in getting money to eat, so I´ve been doing a bit of a “treasure hunting” sort of stuff, ahaha.”
“Treasure hunting!? That’s awesome! Could you let me hear some of your stories!?”
Seeing how well William was biting the bait, Norman gave out a smile. Seeming as if William became a bit embarrassed about having asked Norman that, his face became a bit blushed.
“I don’t mind. …Right. There was one time I was at one of the seven kingdoms…”
The two talked with each other throughout the whole night, becoming good friends. After travelling together for a few days, they decided they would be travelling together to the capital.
☆
A carriage passed by the side. Suddenly, William glanced at Norman’s head.
“By the way, Norman. Why do you use a bandana?”
After having traveled together for so long, they’ve dropped all honorifics and deepened their friendship by calling each other by their names.
“I have far too much white hair. It isn’t good for the appearances.”
“Having white hair at such young age… In my country, it is said that having white hair at young age is a sign of healthiness. It is also said that people with red hair like me is a sign of luck.”
“Hou, this is the first time I’ve heard of that. I wonder if I should take off my bandana in the future when I go visit Rushitania.”
“When that time comes, I will show you the place around myself.”
“I will be in your care then.”
At that time, William was certain. He was certain that he was going to be able to get to the capital of Arcadia safe and sound. The reason for such thought was that he was able to make such a good friend.
“I wonder if we can already be considered friends.”
“To me, you’ve already become my friend long ago.”
William showed a broad smile hearing those words.
☆
The night was still cold at this season. The two were close to the fire, pulling through the coldness.
“I have a fiancee. I wanted to become a man worthy of her, so I came all my way here. I will definitely rise in the world, and then, I will triumphantly return to my home. This is my dream.”
William started to talk. He was sitting at the other side of the bonfire.
“She said she would only marry with a strong man. That’s why I decided to come here. But even so, that girl… Right when I was about to depart, she started crying. She was telling me not to go and so and so. Isn’t this kind of selfish? But I am happy that I am this much loved. Now all there is left to do is to raise some military achievements!”
“William, is your family wealthy?
William started to ponder for a bit.
“Hm, well, I guess it is more to the rich side, but it is nothing compared to the people of the seven kingdoms. The place I live is boring, filled with nothing but forests and mountains.”
“I see. I want to go have a look there one day.”
“You should come! You will always be welcome in my home!”
Their conversation started to become lively. Soon they would arrive at the royal capital. But even so, William didn’t feel anxious about that. This kind of feeling had vanished a long time ago. Everything was thanks to his friend, Norman.
☆
Those days they had been travelling together were soon going to be over. They were going to arrive at the capital tomorrow at the afternoon.
William started to feel a bit lonely at that night.
“Would it be fine if I went that way just for a moment?”
“Where are you going to?”
Norman suddenly stood up.
“Well, it’s that “treasure hunter” thing. Apparently, there is a bandit treasure buried under a certain tree in that forest. The bandits had already been executed in another country, and it is said that only their treasure remains.”
William’s eyes started to sparkle. It could be said that he was overflowing with interest.
“Do you want to come with me?”
“Yes!”
Hearing William’s answer, Norman showed a smile.
Distancing themselves from the road, the two of them went towards the forest. Obviously, there weren’t any humans around that place; it was a place ruled by the darkness of the night.
“It should be here. I will need to dig for quite a bit, so please wait while I am digging.”
Taking out all the equipment for digging, Norman stuck the spade into the ground. The sound of the ground being dug could be heard. It wouldn’t be possible to dig the wet earth without putting a considerable amount of strength.
“Fuoh, it’s really tough.”
Norman seemed tired. Seeing that, William, who had only been watching Normam until now finally stood up.
“I can help you too. Let me do it, Norman.”
“Thank you very much. Let’s take turns then.”
William started to dig. He was surprisingly doing well.
“It’s because I’ve been playing at the mountains since I was a kid. I am very good at these kind of things.”
William continued to dig using an incredible amount of strength. In contrast, Norman watched him in boredom.
“By the way, William. Did you leave your luggage at the bonfire?”
“… No, I brought the important things here just in case.”
“Hohoh, and what do you mean by “important things”?”
“Hmm… Obviously money, but also the sword my father forged for me, and also my identification documents. I am going to need those three to be able to live in Arkas after all.”
“Oh, would you mind if I were to have a look at the sword forged by someone from Rushitania, the kingdom of blacksmiths?”
“I don’t mind. By the way, how much longer am I supposed to keep digging?”
“Only a bit more.”
Rummaging through the luggage, Norman found the sword. After finding a certain paper lying next to it, the corners of his mouth rose.
“…Still not yet?”
“Not yet. Oh, that is very nice. It is a very beautiful sword.”
The blade of the sword shone right after it was drawn from its scabbard. How much money was it necessary to get your hands on a sword like this in Arcadia? Except for nobles, it would be impossible to have a sword like this. The combination of beauty and toughness charmed Norman.
“Isn’t that right!? My father isn’t good at using swords, but he is first-rate at making them. By the way, is this still not enough? I’ve already dug a lot. Isn’t it perhaps buried at another spot?”
Digging one spadeful of earth after another; there was no treasure to be found even after digging a hole a person could fit in
“No, there shouldn’t be any mistake. It certainly should be a bit deeper there.”
“Is that so? A place someone has dug before should be supposed to be a bit easier to dig though. Sorry Norman, I am a bit tired now. Could you take it on now?”
William said to Norman, who was standing behind him.
“Yes, alright. I’ll take you on.”
William was about to turn his head and give the spade to Norman, but…
“From now on and forever, right.”
A beautiful silvery shine flashed into William’s stomach. That flash had been the sword created in result of many of his father’s drops of sweat. That same sword was now piercing through William. He didn’t understand. He couldn’t comprehend the misfortune he had fallen into…
“Wh-why?”
William was staggering. The viscous blood was dripping from the blade.
“Why did you, Norman…?”
William couldn´t believe Normal had stabbed him. He believed that Norman had been his friend. He believed they had become best friends. Even though he was certain of the bright future that awaited the two of them.
“Haha, Norman, is it? To start with thing, my name isn’t even Norman.”
The young man named Norman took off his bandana. It was a silky and smooth white as chalk hair. Perhaps, the shine of the moonlight being reflected onto that white hair would normally have been thought as beautiful. However, right now, the only impression it gave was of daunt. Coupled together with the expression the white haired man had on his face…
“My name is William. I will be taking this name from you. Be happy, your name will spread through the world and your existence will reach the top of Arcadia. I will be raising all the military merits for you. And for that to happen, you will have to die.”
The white haired young man thrust the sword further into William. The same sword that was made for the sake of protecting William was now easily cutting through his body’s meat. Next, his right arm was cut off.
“I don’t get what you are saying! We were friends! Wasn’t that how things were like!!!?”
William shouted. However, his voice wouldn’t reach anyone. Nobody lived in this forest. And besides that, they were far away from the road. William’s lamentations wouldn’t reach out to anybody. Not even to the man in front of his eyes…
“Friends this friends that you keep saying? No, maybe that’s just impossible. I hate you, and I don’t think I would have ever come to like you.”
William’s eyes became open wide in desperation.
“I can see that you were blessed with a good home and was raised with love. You have a family and also have a fiancee. This kind of extravagance…. This kind of happiness… There is no way [we] can forgive you for this!!”
The blade of the sword shone brighter. Now it was William’s left arm to be cut off. William’s screams wouldn’t reach out to the young man in front of his eyes. His heart had already been broken five years ago.
“You were supposed to value this happiness! You weren’t supposed to come to a place like this and try to aim for somewhere higher! You overestimate yourself. In either way, someone like you would be dying off someday anyway. That’s why you should be thanking me. Just like you wished for, I will have your name thunder throughout the world!”
William’s consciousness was gradually becoming blurred. He was bleeding without stop from his wounds. His life was flowing away. His friend, Norman, had destroyed his hopes for the future.
“That’s right, I have something to tell you. That “treasure hunting” stories were all something I took from a book, Norman was the name of the owner of the bookstore who used to sell books. Books such as this one I took reference from. As for that hole you dug…”
The demon clad in white kicked William. William fell into the [hole].
“It is your grave, Williammmmmmmmmm!!”
By that time, William couldn’t think clearly anymore. All that remained was his happy memories from his hometown. Those memories were passing through his head. His memories about his beloved fiancee. The idle chattering he would have with his family. His elder and little brother, his little sisters, the memories of him going through the mountains…
“Ah, that’s right, I forgot to take your head too, William.”
Cutting off him from those memories, the blade cut off William’s neck.
“Goodbye, Willam. You have my thanks.”
The fallen head was already a corpse that couldn’t answer back. Picking up the head by the red hair, the young man threw the head inside the hole.
“Fuh, it was unexpectedly… very easy to cut his neck. Or maybe it is because this sword is just that much well-made?”
Going back to using the language of his own country, the young man heartily tasted the sensation of having cut the life of a person.
“It’s alright nee-san, don’t worry. Even I am surprised. I imagined that my heart would hurt in the first time I killed someone…. Yes, it is fine.”
Having a calm expression in his face, the way the young man was acting made it feel like he indeed had something broken about him.
The young man picked up all the parts he had cut off from [William] that were lying around near the hole and threw them inside the hole. After getting rid of all the vestiges, the young man let out a big sigh.
“Well, it’s fine. From now on will be the main act. This will be the crucial part of my life-time that will decide whether I will rise to prominence. Now then, let’s bury this guy already, shall we?”
The young man started to fill the hole. He didn’t have any expression on his face.
The white haired young man, Al, had once again built up his karma.
